Friday in Focus: Fiona Valpy

It’s officially the most depressing time of the year 🙁 By the end of January we often find ourselves broke (all that Christmas splurging coming home to roost on top of a bit more temptation in the New Year sales), fed-up (it’s SO hard to get up on these still-dark mornings; those New Year’s resolutions to lose half a stone and adopt a healthier lifestyle lie abandoned in a corner as we order a large slice of cake with our cappuccino just to get us through the day) and, to make matters worse, we’re bombarded with ads for glamorous holidays in sun-kissed destinations that seem depressingly out of reach.

But hang on a tick! Here’s something to cheer us up… For about half the price of a Skinny Latte you can download ‘The French for Love’, the first in the series of three ‘The French for…’ novels, and be instantly transported to the sunshine and warmth of the French winelands.

Why wait for summer? Cheer yourself up with a dose of love and laughter with this Amazon-bestselling light-hearted romantic comedy. Here’s what they’re saying about it…

Gina has lost her perfect job, her boyfriend and her favourite aunt all within the space of a few months. So when she inherits her aunt’s ramshackle French house, Gina decides to pack her bags for the Bordeaux countryside – swapping English weather for blue skies, sunshine, great wine and a fresh start.

What she hasn’t factored in is a hole in the roof, the most embarrassing language faux pas, and discovering family secrets that she was never supposed to know.

Suddenly feeling a long way from home, Gina will have to rely on new found friends, her own hard work – and Cédric – her charming, mysterious and très handsome new stonemason.

But whilst desire needs no translation, love is a different matter. Can Gina overcome the language barrier to make her French dream come true?

Like a glass of wine in the French afternoon sunshine – The French for Love is the perfect summer escape.

Praise for The French for Love

‘This book is the perfect summer read and has exactly everything that I look for when selecting a book to take with me on vacation. Light and perfectly worded, Fiona does a wonderful job with the flow and the characters are so much fun. I absolutely adored the French countryside as the backdrop and loved the translation aspect of the book. I’ve never taken a French class and that ended up being okay because the author makes it very easy to read between the lines. Overall, this book is so much fun and will definitely leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I highly recommend it.’ 4.5/5 ChickLitPlus.com

‘I would definitely recommend this book as a summer read to anyone. The heat of the sun here would combat any British summer blues, or indeed compliment an unexpected heat wave. This is definitely one to pack in your suitcase. A little bit of romance, a nice glass of wine and a wonderful summer setting.’ Fabulous Book Fiend

‘As Gina learns to navigate life in Bordeaux (sounds heavenly, doesn’t it?), she finds herself falling in love with Cédric, her dishy stonemason. Well…I won’t tell you the rest. You should just take my word and dive into this book. It’s a perfect summer read that will transport you away from the doldrums commuting or the usual rat race and have you longing to move to France and find a ramshackle house of your own.’ 5/5 KimTalksBooks.com

About Fiona Valpy

I moved to France from the UK in 2007, leaving behind a career in Marketing and Public Relations to explore new avenues, and now teach yoga and write. Having renovated an old rambling farmhouse with my husband, I have developed new-found skills in cement-mixing and interior decorating, although my preferred pastime by far is winetasting.
‘The French for Love’ is my debut novel, inspired by the people and the wines of the Bordeaux region. ‘The French for Always’ and ‘The French for Christmas’ introduce new characters, but you’ll meet some old friends as well!